The Hofburg (Imperial Palace) in Innsbruck is an excellent example of 18th-century design. This palace served as a holiday home for the imperial family when they needed some mountain air, and a visit today shows the wealth of their empire and provides and insight into the lives Austria’s elite have led over the years.
A palace has stood on this site for more than 500 years, since Archduke Sigmund the Rich finished the original construction in 1463. Over the centuries it has been renovated and redecorated by various generations of the reigning Habsburg dynasty in accordance with current tastes. Emperor Maximilian I converted the medieval palace into a late-Gothic masterpiece in the early 16th century, with later Renaissance influences including murals being painted in the courtyard. The palace we see today reflects the Baroque style favoured by Empress Maria Theresa in the mid-18th century, and has been lovingly restored so that visitors can experience what Austria’s rulers would have seen all those years ago.
As you wander through the rooms and corridors of this sumptuous residence, you will gain an idea of the wealth possessed by the Habsburg family. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Giant’s Hall, which features a decorative tiled floor, intricate paintings on the wall and ceilings, and ornate golden chandeliers. The hall’s name comes from the murals of the labours of Hercules that once covered the walls, but it could equally apply to the scale of this magnificent room.
At the Hofburg, you can explore audience chambers, dressing rooms and guard rooms – and even walk along the narrow servants’ corridor that ensured that the imperial family could be served quickly and unobtrusively. Allow an hour and a half to wander around – more if the weather is good enough to explore the gardens. For more information, join one of the daily guided tours – an extra charge applies.
Hofburg is not far from central Innsbruck. The palace is open every day with longer hours on Wednesdays. An audio guide comes free with your ticket.
